Wrench



Dec; 31, 1940. A. DOERR 2,227,218

WRENCH Filed Oct. 1e, 19s9 In ventor A1 71; .5? J0 err A iiomeys Patented Dec. 31, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

This invention relates to Wrenches of the character especially adapted for gripping cylindrical, hexagonal and other shaped members and includes a relatively fixed jaw at one end of a shank and a movable jaw adjustable on the shank for enacting with said fixed jaw in gripping a member with increased gripping action as force is applied on the handle end of the shank in one direction, said movable jaw besides being adjustable relative to the fixed jaw may pivot on the shank in any of its adjusted positions so as to be selfadjusting to the member and is spring influenced to pivot normally away from the shank so that when adjusted or applied to the member and the shank moved in said direction, the tendency thereof is to pivot toward the shank and the fixed jaw thereby increasing its grip on the member and will readily release from said member when the force is applied to the handle end of the shank in an opposite direction.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consist-s in certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

For a complete understanding of my invention, reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawing, in which Figure l is a side elevation partly in section illustrating a wrench constructed in accordance with my invention.

Figure 2 is a top plan View illustrating the wrench.

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional View taken on the line 33 of Figure 1.

Referring in detail to the drawing, the numeral 5 indicates an elongated shank which has secured to one end thereof a handle or grip 6 and integral with the other end of said shank is a hook-shaped relatively fixed jaw I having an arcuately curved work-engaging face 8 and a bill portion 9. A series of teeth ID are formed on one edge of the shank and extend from the handle or grip 6 in the direction of the fixed jaw to be engaged by a movable jaw H. The teeth permit adjustment of the movable jaw toward and from the fixed jaw to accommodate members of different sizes.

The movable jaw H is of elongated formation and tapers toward one end to define a bill portion I2 having a slight curvature thereto. The bill portion I2 is adapted to engage in the teeth. The large end of the movable jaw is arcuately curved and provided with serrations or teeth to form a work engaging face I3. A pair of links M straddle the shank 5 and are pivotally connected to the movable jaw substantially intermediate the ends thereof. The opposite ends of the links are pivotally connected to a spring arm [5 anchored to the shank, as shown at IS. The 5 spring arm is arranged at an opposite edge of the shank from the teeth 10 and its normal action is to pivot the movable jaw on the shank away from the fixed jaw and said shank, as shown in full lines in Figure l. The movable jaw when in 10 the stated position is ready to be adjusted to a member which the work engaging face 8 has been brought into engagement with. The movable jaw H may be manually adjusted to engage with the member by adjusting the bill portion 12 from 15 one tooth to another.

' A force applied to the handle or grip 6 in an upward direction when considering Figure 1 will bring about a gripping of the member tightly by the jaws, the movable jaw ll pivoting toward' the shank and the fixed jaw, consequently increasing its wedging or gripping action on the member to assure against slippage. A movement of the hand grip 6 in the reverse direction brings about freeing of the movable jaw II from the 25 member consequently permitting the wrench to be ratcheted over the member for the purpose of obtaining another grip thereon.

It is believed that the foregoing description, when taken in connection with the drawing will fully set forth the construction and advantages of this invention to those skilled in the art to which such a device relates, so that further detailed description will not be required.

Having thus described the invention, I claim:

A wrench comprising a rigid elongated shank, a handle secured to one end of the shank, a relatively fixed hook-shaped jaw formed on the other end of the shank and extending angularly to one edge of said shank, said jaw having a bill portion and a concaved work engaging face extending from the bill portion to the shank, a series of teeth formed on said edge of the shank, a tapered elongated movable jaw having the smallest end thereof curved angularly thereto to provide a bill for engagement with the teeth whereby said jaw may be adjusted toward and from the relatively fixed jaw and pivoted toward and from the shank and having the large end thereof arcuately curved and serrated to coact with the work engaging face of the fixed jaw in gripping an object, links pivoted on opposite faces of the movable jaw and located substantially intermediate the ends of said movable jaw and extending substantially at right angles thereto to straddle the shank, and

a spring arm having one end secured on the edge of the shank opposite the edge carrying said teeth, said spring arm having an offset portion normally spaced from and paralleling the secondmentioned edge of the shank and pivoted to said links whereby said movable jaw will assume an angular position to the shank and permit pivotal movement of the latter-named jaw toward the relatively fixed jaw in any of the adjusted positions of the movable jaw on said shank.

AUGUST DOERR. 

